by Lon Graham, Vice President
In his Gospel, Matthew summarizes the ministry of Jesus, saying that He went throughout all the cities and villages of Judea, teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of diseases and afflictions. Matthew tells us that, as Jesus took in the crowds that followed Him in all these places, He was moved to compassion for them because He saw that they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:35-36). Jesus took this opportunity to teach His disciples an important lesson. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38).
The basic lesson is that there are people all around us who are hurting, burdened, weary, and helpless to give themselves relief. It is among them that we find the harvest, but there are few who are willing to enter into the hard work of serving them.
As I consider the plight of children in our country and state, I cannot help but feel that Jesus’ words are just as appropriate today as they were in the first century. There are around 400,000 children in foster care in the United States, and, in New Mexico, there are, on any given day, roughly 2,000 children in the custody of the Children, Youth, and Families Department.
Just like the crowds that Jesus saw, those children are hurting, burdened, weary, and helpless to give themselves relief. Each one is beloved by God and an object of His infinite compassion. His words speak powerfully from the pages of Scripture: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” There are many in need: who will be the hands and feet of Jesus for them?
When we follow Jesus like this into the fields of service, we bear fruit. He calls us not to the empty fields but to the harvest, which is the fruit gathered from hard work. He calls us to fruitfulness.
Praise be to God, we are seeing that fruit here at the Children’s Home. We see it in safe and loving homes for children, community involvement by the kids that is teaching them the value of giving back, personal growth in the children that sees them learning lessons that will enable them to thrive as adults, and spiritual growth in the kids in which they are seeking out the truths of Scripture. The harvest is still plentiful!
We are asking you to join us in doing two things. First, join us in the harvest in praying, serving, and giving, helping us as we continue to make visible the invisible love of God for these children. Second, join us as we watch God pour out His grace upon them and rewrite their futures by the power of His gospel.
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